Milk Myth?

For years we've heard that "milk does a body good." But a recent study is questioning the truth behind the popular slogan.

Drink milk and grow up big and strong. That's what William and Shirley Reber always told their three sons.

"Milk is good for you, strong bones, drink your milk," said Reber.

But researchers at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine now say there's little evidence that drinking milk promotes strong bones in children.

However, not everyone in the medical community agrees.

"A lot of data they used was pretty outdated. To recommend that children don't consume three cups of milk a day or that there's no benefit of consuming three cups of milk a day, isn't really good general public health, " said Erin Chambers, a clinical dietician at Scott and White.

Chambers says milk and other dairy products should be included as part of a balanced diet. She still encourages parents to serve milk to their kids and that's advice Reber plans to follow, even with his grandkids.

"I believe milk is good for you. There were a lot of dairy farms where I was brought up and until something more specific comes out, I think we'll continue with the milk drinking," said Reber.

The study suggests alternative calcium sources like tofu, oats, and broccoli are better than dairy products. But getting kids to swap their milk for broccoli could be difficult.

"I think you're going to have a hard time trying to get a child to eat tofu or broccoli for dinner," said Reber.

But don't bypass the milk aisle just yet. Many nutritionists believe that milk is a vital part of a healthy diet, giving you calcium and vitamins your body needs.

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